Under 23s: Charlton 3-1 Forest

Nottingham Forest took a young Under 23 side down to Charlton Athletic on Monday but a brave performance wasn’t enough to stop The Reds falling to a 3-1 defeat in the capital.

Goals from Mikhail Kennedy, Patrick Bauer and Brandon Hanlan were enough to give The Addicks all three points despite a late consolation strike from Ben Brereton.

Charlton had made all the early running and they made their possession count on 19 minutes. Tareiq Holmes-Dennis was able to get away down the left-hand side, he sent in a low cross to Kennedy, who allowed the ball to run across his body and fired it into the bottom corner.

A unfortunate piece of luck then allowed then home side to double their lead. Joe Worrall stuck a leg out to prevent Ollie Muldoon’s free-kick from finding the target but only diverted it into the path of Bauer who headed into the empty net

Charlton came close to getting their third with 57 minutes played. Hanlan broke into the penalty area and cut the ball back for Kennedy; he fired at goal but a vital block saw his effort deflect behind.

But Forest couldn’t hold the home side at bay for long and they did find a third goal. Holmes-Dennis stood up a well-weighted cross to the far post and Hanlan nodded home from four yards out.

Jack Lester's side did manage to get themselves on the scoresheet in stoppage time when Brereton volleyed home at the far post from a Tyler Walker delivery for his first goal of the season.